Sometimes in the business world, you suddenly may find yourself needing to rent a forklift, pallet jack, a scissor lift, or other material handling equipment.
When is it wise rent?
- During seasonal or temporary surges in business
- When specialized equipment is needed for a project. (E.g., if you wish to change the signs/banners hanging from the ceiling and/or change the light-bulbs, you might wish to rent a scissor lift or vertical mast lift.)
- When you need equipment to temporarily replace equipment that is “down” due to abuse or misuse.
- When you want to “test-drive” a new procedure, a new piece or equipment, or a new feature. (For instance, you may be toying with the idea of using order-pickers to fill orders, or perhaps you are considering getting a new piece of equipment in your warehouse. Renting can give you the chance to try it out before you make a long-term decision.)
What do you need to know before you rent any equipment?
- Always choose a dealership that is reliable and trust-worthy. Renting equipment requires a relationship. You want to choose a reputable company that rents out reputable brands of equipment to avoid any hassles down the road.
- When you call the rental dealership, be sure to know exactly how you are using the equipment. Do you need a forklift, a pallet jack, an order picker, an electric walkie pallet truck, a rough-terrain forklift, a scissor lift, a vertical mast lift, etc? What maximum height do you need? What are the load weights you’ll be lifting? What space constraints do you have? Are there any special parameters that you will be working around, such as the need to fit the equipment through a door? Will you be using it inside or outside? What job will the equipment perform? You will probably be asked all of these questions and maybe more. If you’re unsure of exactly what you need, be sure to provide your sales rep with as many details as possible. He or she can help you determine whether you need a cushion or pneumatic truck, as well as what type of fuel to use, along with all the other details about size, lifting capacity, and more. You may also learn about products or types of equipment that you didn’t even know are available for rent.
- A contract protects both you and the rental dealer, so read it well to make sure you understand the details.
- Before allowing any rental equipment to be put to use, make sure that any employees who will be operating the equipment are properly trained and understand all of the safety features. If your operators are not properly trained to operate the rental equipment, talk to your customer service rep who can provide proper training materials or classes to ensure that anyone who is using the forklift or equipment can do so safely.
- Verify which maintenance procedures need to occur on the rental equipment. While most significant maintenance procedures will be handled by the rental dealership, conducting a daily checklist on forklifts and other equipment is an industry standard for safety reasons. Your sales or service rep can provide you with any checklists and maintenance information you need to safeguard your employees and the equipment to avoid unwanted charges when the rental equipment is returned. Be sure to understand the maintenance expectations and liability when you sign the contract.
- When your rental equipment arrives at your location, check for any pre-existing damage as well as all necessary safety features, such as harnesses, belts, lights, etc.
- If any damages or problems occur to your forklift or equipment during the rental period, contact your dealership immediately.
- When you are finished with your rental equipment, contact your dealership to arrange pick-up of the equipment.
When you need to rent, rent the best — America’s #1 selling forklifts – from the largest rental fleet in North America. Renting can be a great way to supplement your existing fleet if you’re expecting an increase in business activity or you need a piece of equipment outside of your normal specifications. Our quality and reputation for reliability make Toyota forklifts ideal for rentals, short- or long-term. And, after renting a Toyota forklift, you just might be sold on owning one. So don’t let another shift go by without the dependability of a Toyota forklift.
Whether you need to rent a forklift for a few weeks or a few months, Williams Toyota Lift has you covered.
As an award-winning forklift dealership that serves Canton, Akron, Kent, Ravenna, Medina, and Uniontown, and 12 counties in northeastern Ohio, Williams Toyota Lift sells, services, leases, and rents new and used lift trucks, pallet jacks, scissor lifts, and vertical mast lifts. We stock more than 100,000 parts and tires for forklifts and other material handling equipment. We offer financing, training, forklift maintenance plans, and warehousing solutions.
Year after year, Williams Toyota Lift is recognized by Toyota Material Handling USA for our unsurpassed dedication to providing our customers with the highest quality service.
With a large inventory of forklifts and utility vehicles, we are able to serve our customers throughout 12 Ohio counties, including: Stark, Summit, Portage, Medina, Columbiana, Holmes, Wayne, Tuscarawas, Coshocton, Carroll, Jefferson, and Harrison.
Call us today at 800.435.2449.
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